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Meet the Net-Works Philippines Team – Part 2

22 May 2017

Meet the Philippines Team - Part 2: Fidel, Smith and Ricky

Our ‘Meet the Philippines Team’ blog series gives an insight into how Net-Works operates, by sharing a little about each team member’s role and what excites them about their work. In this second blog in the series, we meet Community Organizers Fidel and Smith, and Livelihoods Development Assistant Ricky.

The Team - part 2

Fidel Estremos, Community Organizer, Danajon Bank and the Bantayan Islands

I’ve been working as a Community Organizer for Net-Works since 2012. My role involves assessing the economic and social viability of potential new Net-Works sites. I also train and mentor local community members and partner organizations on setting up community banks and developing community outreach activities.

These activities are designed to increase local understanding of conservation issues and their impact on the environment, people, and fisheries.

I am grateful to Net-Works for giving me the chance to play my part in conserving Mother Earth, by collecting discarded nets that are damaging our marine environment.

Smith Bajon, Community Organizer, Northern Iloilo

I’ve been part of the team since 2014 and I really enjoy my work. I’m excited about the Environment Fund innovation we are introducing in our community banks, where communities pool a small portion of their savings to fund local conservation projects.

Net-Works is proving that the Environment Fund can be used in unique ways for conservation and I look forward to introducing the idea to my own community.

Ricky Galvan, Livelihoods Development Assistant, Northern Iloilo

I joined Net-Works in 2014 and am responsible for day-to-day community organizing, training and mentoring. I work closely with Smith, coordinating net collection, storage, and transportation from local collection sites to the net collection hub in Panay Island. I also support community members to establish seaweed farms to diversify their livelihoods.

I like that my job gives me the opportunity to help communities to the best of my ability, while developing skills, knowledge, and values that I can put to good use, both in my role with Net-Works and beyond.

The Philippines team and communities were recently featured in The Economist’s ‘The Earth Circle’ film. Check it out here.